Akshaye Khanna in Farhan Akhtar's Voice From The Sky:

Farhan Akhtar has finally found the leading man for his next, Voice From The Sky. It's Akshaye Khanna with whom Farhan had teamed up with optimum creative satisfaction in his first directorial venture Dil Chahta Hai.

Saif who has also teamed with Farhan in Dil Chahta Hai and in fact acknowledges the film as a turning point, opted out of Voice From The Sky a couple of months ago. Revealing the change in cast Farhan says, "Yes, it is Akshaye Khanna. Naam lock kiya jaye. I'm confident. Both Saif and Akshaye are my buddies. I needed an actor of really good caliber, at the same time sensitive sophisticated, a guy who seems extremely hard from the outside but is soft from the inside. Both Saif and Akshaye fitted the bill. Saif didn't work out."

Continues Farhan, "There're many reasons why Akshaye works amazingly for the film. Akshaye is damn excited. He loves his role. And I love him in the role. It'd be great fun working with Akshaye again. Fortunately, all the actors I've worked with so far have been a pleasure."

The main role of a young boy is yet to be cast. "The story belongs to the boy. But three other characters played by Akshaye Khanna and two women (whom I'm yet to cast) play very important roles in the boy's life. Akshaye's story is integral to the plot. It's an extremely important role. And he's kicked by the script and by the part. Akshaye knows it's a very important part. Otherwise he wouldn't do it."

As for the boy? "We've a short-list of 12-15 boys now. And no, Darsheel Safary was not considered at all. I 'm looking for a totally untried face." Farhan starts filming Voice From The Sky in November. "Then there's Don 2. Which will have all the actors from the first Don including Shah Rukh Khan and Priyanka Chopra, of course. The story and screenplay are done. Voice From The Sky was scripted right after Dil Chahta Hai. Don 2 I started writing a few months after Don released. So this year I only have releases as an actor. Next year I'll have two releases as a director."


Motorola, Abhishek and Aadesh tie up for 'Bollywood Meets Hollywood':


Aadesh's first international track 'Bollywood Meets Hollywood' with American rapper Wyclef Jean and Abhishek Bachchan hits stores in the India in July. To be released under the Sony ?BMG label, the song is expected to be a big hit.

To promote the song Aadesh has tied up for a commercial with Motorola, which will feature Abhishek, Aadesh and Wyclef Jean. Says Aadesh, "The track is part of my album with Wyclef entitled Carnival 2. As you know Wyclef and I flew down to Miami to record the number with Abhishek who was shooting there for Karan Johar's film. 'Bollywood Meets Hollywood' is already a craze abroad. Youtube is filled with the song. We've big plans for the song in India. I hope it would be like a singing launch for Abhishek."

Aadesh plans to tie up with other international super-artistes like Justin Timberlake in the near future. "I missed the chance recently because I was busy judging a reality show in India. Never mind. Justin's company is very keen to tie up with us

Himesh delivers music of Karzzzz on mother's birthday :

Trust Himesh Reshammiya to go back to his roots even when it comes to his professional journey. Ever so fond of his parents who shaped his career over the years, Himesh is particularly nostalgic when it comes to acknowledging the respect he has for his mother.

He has always believed in doing something auspicious on 29th June, the day when his mother's birthday falls. This is why last year he released his debut film as an actor, Aap Kaa Surroor - The Moviee on 29th June. The trend has now continued in 2008 as well since he has given the delivery of the music track of Karzzzz to Bhushan Kumar on the same day.

Informs Himesh's friend, "Himesh bhai wanted the music of Karzzzz to be blessed by his mom on her birthday. The film, music and the songs are extra special since Himesh's voice and music will be heard after a gap of one year. He is very excited about the way the project has turned out to be."

When contacted Himesh re-emphasized on the fact that 29th June is a special day for him. He said, "With the blessings of my mother, we saw Aap Kaa Surroor - The Moviee turning out to be such a huge success. The project helped my launch as an actor. Now I am really very happy to give the final delivery of the Master CD of the soundtrack of Karzzzz to Bhushan Kumar on my mother's birthday. With her blessings, I know that God is with me."

One hears that getting the right sound for Karzzzz was a painstaking experience. There were quite a few songs that were created before arriving at the final list. Is that true? Confirms Himesh, "Yes, the music of Karzzzz indeed took a long time but I have no regrets. It has given me a lot of job satisfaction. However, the challenge is huge and the expectations are quite high. I am now waiting for the songs to hit the stands so that audience reactions can be gauged."

While the film is all set for 17th October release, the music of Karzzzz would be hitting the stands 2 months in advance i.e. in the month of August. Directed by Satish Kaushik, the film sees Shweta Kumar as the film's leading lady with Urmila Matondkar playing the vamp's part. The film also stars Dino Morea, Danny Denzongpa and Gulshan Grover.

Has Kunal Kohli branched out of Yash Raj?
Now that the results of THODA PYAAR THODA MAGIC are out [the film has performed well at multiplexes over the weekend, after a slow start], are producers Aditya Chopra and Kunal Kohli regretting the decision of not selling the film to a corporate house that had offered an astronomical amount [62 cr?] for its global rights?

"It's true that we were offered a big amount, but I wouldn't like to reveal the exact figure. We refused the offer because Yash Raj wanted to distribute the film themselves. They've a strong distribution network, plus they have the music and Home Video departments as well. It was Adi?s call completely," Kunal informs me, "Adi has always taken the business decisions, while the creative call was mine in all the four films. It has always been that way."

Meanwhile, rumours are rife that Kunal isn't too happy with the way Yash Raj has promoted the film and has decided to join hands with a corporate entity for his new film. Translated into simple words, it means Kunal and Aditya have had a fallout. True? "There's no truth to it. Even if you meet them [corporates] casually, people tend to blow it out of proportion. It's assumed that you've inked the deal, which is far from true," he laughs. Point noted!

Love Story 2050's grand world premiere on July 2 in London :



One of the hottest newcomers of Bollywood, Harman Baweja, is gearing up for his big day or should we say big night- Wednesday, July 2. Yes that is the day when Harman will be present along with the cast and crew of his debut film Love Story 2050 at the grand premiere of his film scheduled to take place in London.

Bollywood Hungama spoke to an excited Harman who shared all the details of the grand premiere, "I am really looking forward to the world premiere of my film Love Story 2050 in London. The premiere is on Wednesday July 2, 2008 at the Cineworld theatre in Feltham. This is the same place where the premiere of Krrish was held few years ago"

But why London for the premiere? "It was something which we had planned six months in advance. I believe my entire team has already done a lot of promotions in India. There are many Indians living in London who are as much into Bollywood as we are and we thought it would be absolutely unfair for us not to come there and share our film with them and hence we decided to have the world premiere in London. So far I have received an extremely warm response from people in London, be it through e-mails or phone calls and I am really looking forward to the premiere"

So who all are going to be present for the special night? "Well myself, Priyanka Chopra, Boman Irani, Dad (Harry Baweja) and Mom (Pammi Baweja) would be there along with Mr. Khetarpal from Adlabs (who are also the producers of the film). Besides, I have a lot of family members in London. I am a Punjabi so there are lots of distant relatives of mine who stay in and around London. They are all really excited about the premiere happening there and even I am looking forward to catching up with some of my cousins after a long time."


"My next film is called Deewana Must Die" - Guddu Dhanoa:
His Sunny Deol starrer Big Brother may have released more than a year back but Ziddi director Guddu Dhanoa has continued to work on newer projects. Come September and he would begin first of his many projects that he is planning to get on floors in next few months.

Interestingly, after making majority of films with established actors like Sunny Deol (Ziddi, Salakhen, 23rd March 1931 Shaheed, Jaal-The Trap, Big Brother) and Akshay Kumar (Elaan, Tu Chor Main Sipahi, Aflatoon), he doesn't have any qualms working with rank newcomer Adhyayan Suman who just made his debut with Haal -e-Dil.

As per Adhyayan, the film would be a sequel to Shah Rukh Khan starrer Deewana which was produced by Dhanoa.

"But the film isn't really a sequel to Deewana", says Guddu Dhanoa who has been known for his action films, "Yes, I did produce Deewana but the only similarity here is that my new film is called Deewana Must Die."

Deewana Must Die? Now that pretty much rings a bell! Is it a remake of Hollywood flick John Tucker Must Die?

Laughs Guddu, "Not at all. This has a different story altogether and features one leading heroine. In fact we are still going through narrations and are yet to close on the girl and the main villain. For the girl's role, I am looking at someone who can enact the part of a 16 year old. Any contenders?"

Produced by Zee, the film would begin either in the month of September'08 or January'09. What keeps Guddu busy in the meanwhile?

"Another project that should go on floors is Handsome Four. And guess what, in spite of four handsome men around; there is just no requirement of a leading lady. Now don't get any ideas though because my boys out there are pretty straight", smiles Guddu.

With no leading lady, how would be incorporate the glam quotient in the film? "The film would have a couple of item songs to take care of that. Meanwhile the plot revolves around these four men and a 5 year old kid. Handsome Four is going to be an out and out entertainer with lot of action and emotional value attached. This film too would be a Zee production."

Months back he had expressed his desire to make a film called Gulabi with Sunny Deol in the lead. Whatever happened to that?

"The film is certainly in the pipeline and I am going to direct it for sure. However, I am not sure if the film would star Sunny now. With incoming of corporate houses, star prices have shot up in a big way. What was economically viable two years back is not really the same today. I am yet to close on the cast for the film. Gulabi is a brilliant subject and a film on that deserves to be made", concludes Guddu Dhanoa.

Himesh's double role film titled Hhey Gujju



After Sajid Khan called all the babies for Heyy Babyy last year, it is now the turn of Himesh Reshammiya to get not just all his Gujarati brethren together but also rest of the country with his cry of Hhey Gujju.

Hhey Gujju - Well, that's indeed the title of his next film with Studio 18 which has Himesh's Karzzzz director Satish Kaushik at the helm of affairs once again. The film has Himesh Reshammiya playing a double role for the first time and has been designed as an out and out comedy.

Says a source close to Satish Kaushik, "The film is titled Hhey Gujju for the simple reason that Himesh plays a Gujarati character. Since he plays a double role in the film, one of the characters is shown as a localite from Rajkot (Gujarat) who is settled in Delhi's Chandni Chowk region. You won't believe it but he is called Karsanlal Trikamlal Gandhi. Isn't that an unusual name for a mainstream hero?"

Well, indeed it is an unusual name. How about the other part that Himesh plays in the film? "The other guy is also a Gujarati and his character is that of a cool Gujarati Casanova called Akash Patel who stays abroad", informs the source, "The film is a complete entertainer from the word go and has been designed as a comedy of errors. As is the tradition with Himesh's films, this one too would be introducing two new leading ladies opposite him."

Incidentally, Hhey Gujju was launched on 29th April this year with a song recording while the shooting would begin this month.

When quizzed about the film, Himesh said, "I am doing a lot of folk fusion music in this comedy. About the cast which is being brought together for the film, we have already signed a large number of leading comedians and character artistes."

"I am very excited to play a Gujarati for the first time", said Himesh who is apparently already enjoying his comedy stint on the sets of Bhushan Kumar and John Mathew's A Love Issshtory where he is playing a tapori, "I am gaining in experience since in Karzzzz and Kajraare I am playing intense characters. Now it should be fun working with Satishji once again after Karzzzz for Hhey Gujju."

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